(Disclaimer: all comic recommendations are from a speculative vantage point. Not all comics are to guarantee a return on your investment. This article is used as a guide for investments and more so for entertainment purposes. Any opinions or expression of investments should be used as a judgment upon the investor, not InvestComics. Please use your own discretion when investing and have fun.)

InvestComics Hot Picks – New Release Comics on 5/7/14

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We hope that your Free Comic book day was a good one. If you were lucky enough to grab a few free comics, good for you! One free comic in particular may turn out to be a nice keeper. The free comic named Epic (ComixTribe) has massive potential written all over it. This Wednesday; Epic (2013 ComixTribe) #1 arrives on the shelf with a sold out sign on it. If you were lucky enough to snag a copy, hold onto it because there might be some movement in the aftermarket on Epic’s first appearance.

The new Maxx comic this week; Maxx Maxximized (2013 IDW) #7 has an appearance from Pitt. Pitt was an awesome Dale Keown character back in the 90’s. Good to see he’s back! Look for the overprinted Youngblood #4 for Pitt’s first appearance.

Garfield actually makes the Hot Picks this week. This may be a first! Well America’s favorite cat makes it this week with good reason. Garfield (2012 Boom) #25 will be an anniversary issue, which will also be accompanied by a George Perez variant. So if you have $25 to splurge, this would be a nice comic to get signed and graded. Don’t wait for an immediate return on your monies. This comic would be one to sit on for years to come. It’s a long term investment.

Iron Fist continues his origin this week in Iron Fist Living Weapon (2014) #2. I said this once on here, and I’ll say it for the hundredth time now too. Buy Marvel Premiere #15 (1974). This is Iron Fists’ first appearance and should have be archived in your collection from years ago. Iron Fist is a good television episode (Netflix) or movie away from becoming huge. You’ve been warned….

Apparently the New 52 is threating to “change things!” The question we all collectively ask is “so soon??” Batwing (2011-) #31 will possible involve a NEW Batwing, while New 52 Futures End (2014) #1 sets everything in the not too distant future amok. What’s wrong with the present DC?

Batman Superman (2013 DC) #10 looks like a good standalone issue read. Superman has to shrink and go inside Bruce’s body to fight a germ or something. While in there, he discovers something unfathomable. Could it be that dreaded “C” word? Who knows, but must read comics here!

A few years ago I got my first ever story published by BlueWater Comics. House of Horrors #1 was the title, and the artist on my story was Stefano Cardoselli. Check out the original cover (in the scroll gallery) to Vincent Price Presents #36 (which later became House of Horrors #1 instead) by Stefano. Stefano brings it in everything he does. That’s why Necromantical (2014 Ardden) #1 is just about sold out. Stefano gives his best and it shows.

MASTER OF HORROR VINCENT PRICE’S NEW COMIC BOOK SERIES HAUNTS THIS MAY

One of classic Hollywood’s most famous scary men, Vincent Price made a name for himself in classic mysteries and thrillers throughout the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s.

A brand new Vincent Price horror limited series comic book to debut from Bluewater Comics in May; Vincent Price’s “House of Horrors”, will be a four issue mini series. This series is spinning off from the Rondo Award nominated, “Vincent Price Presents”.

“This new series will focus on one shot stories that will have you at the edge of your seat,” said President of Bluewater Comics, Darren G. Davis. “The stories are all new and have a certain horror element about them that hasn’t been seen before.”

The very first issue starts off with the debut of new writer Jay Katz of the energetic and wildly popular web site InvestComics (www.investcomics.com)With art by a Bluewater mainstay Stefano Cardoselli, and colors by Industry star colorist Jeff Balke. It features a painted cover by LP Dopp.

“I am very proud to have this new Vincent Price series for everyone to enjoy”, said Daren Davis. “It’s going to be a spine tingling experience, so get ready for some great horror stories!”

The comic will be available through comic book stores only and other fine established comic book ordering web sites. Check with your retailer and ask about Vincent Price: House of Horrors #1.

About Vincent Price:

Vincent Price was born on May 27, 1911 in St. Louis, Missouri. His father owned the National Candy Company. His acting career began onstage in London in the play Chicago. He also performed with Orson Welles <http://www.biography.com/people/orson-welles-9527363> ‘s Mercury Theatre. Actor Vincent Price starred as the villain in the 1953 film House of Wax. It was one of the first films shot in 3D and revitalized the horror genre.

About Bluewater Productions

Bluewater Productions Inc. is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers 10th Muse and ³The Legend of Isis Bluewater publishes comic books in partnership with entertainment icon William Shatner (TekWar Chronicles), legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen (Wrath of the Titans, Sinbad: Rogue of Mars, Jason and the Argonauts, et al) and celebrated actor Vincent Price (Vincent Price Presents), Additionally, Bluewater publishes a highly successful line of biographical comics under the titles Female Force and Political Power.

Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry¹s top artists and writers.

First thing on the agenda today (some self promoting!) will be pointing out that the new Vincent Price Present #36 comic coming out this week will be my very own first published work. A word of warning here before all of the animal activists gets their panties in a bunch. It’s a horror story that in no way depicts the boundaries of who I am as a person. I love animals, and so does Stephen King.

So moving on from the unnecessary explanation, I want to thank once again a fantastic team that helped my story come to life. The President of Bluewater Productions Darren Davis, the awesome artistry of Stefano Cardoselli, and colorist extraordinaire Jeff Balke. All of you guys rock, and thank you for making my dream a reality starting point.

So technically Vincent Price #36 falls under the Hot Picks umbrella. It’s the first published work of a newbie. I’m picking one up!

Marvel Comics is daring to change the Marvel Universe landscape once again. If everyone received a penny for each time marvel has thrown out the phrase in one of their solicits “this will change the face of the Marvel Universe”, or something close to that, Marvel would probably be filing for Chapter 11 again. That being said, will this mean that we will not be checking Hulk #45? Of course not, we have to, curiosity killed the reader no? Hopefully not a big letdown……

The Defenders comic is back! Remember back in the day how much fun this comic was? Well it’s back with another go-around. However, this Defenders team features the original ensemble minus the big green guy with some added members. Another minus to point out has to be the ridiculous 6 variant covers.

The 2011 version of the Defenders will be brought to you by writer Matt Fraction, and artist Terry Dodson. The defensive teams first appearance can be found in Marvel Feature #1 (1971) for $200. Four years ago this comic was within the $70 range. I know this personally because I bought it back then. Not a tremendous turnaround, but a decent one at the very least.

This week on the new comic book shelf you will find a comic that will feature some of the lamest third rate villains ever assembled in a comic. Villains For Hire #1 has a lineup that will make some say “who? what?.” Since Marvel was so kind enough to even give us this book, we should have fun with it too. There are a total of seven villains appearing in this book. If you decide you want to have some fun hunting down their first appearances, be very prepared to pay your deductable and then some. Here is the list you’ll need to have on hand.

Amazing Spider-Man #46 (1967) – First Appearance of Shocker. Not too bad of a jolt at $300

Uncanny X-Men #141 (1981) – First Avalanche. This comic is the best of the bunch. Not because of the Avalanche appearance, but because of everything else in this comic. John Byrne art, first appearances of Rachael Summers, Pyro, and a classic cover from Byrne and Austin to boot! No chill here.

The Sub Mariner #5 (1968) – First Tiger Shark. Too much of a bite here at $60.

Marvel Premiere #21 (1975) – First Misty Knight. A soggy $20.

Amazing Spider-Man #222 (1981) – First Speed Demon. No quickie here at $16, but a great Walt Simonson cover!

Thunderbolts #34 (1997) – First Scourge. Find this one in the 50 cent bins at your local shop.

Another X book from Marvel tests the waters this week, X-Club #1. The X-Men Science Team gets a comic. Yes that’s right, the X-Men Science Team.

Two Independent comics (Editor Note: 3 not including Vincent Price Presents #36) to check out this week. Irredeemable #32 will start a mini crossover event with Incorruptible. A lot of fun here because these two comics rock on their own. Also check out that ridiculously awesome cover from Trevor Hairsine! Anyone remember Voltron? Well they’re coming back in Voltron #1 from Dynamite Entertainment. The first take on a Voltron comic appeared in 1985 from Modern Comics. A $3 book.

Usually we don’t cover posters, but the new Carnage USA poster is a beauty from Clayton Crain. Click on the image to enlarge and admire the glorious piece.

Ilaria Bramato is not only easy on the eyes in her black & white photo, but also in color as well!

Born in Brindisi Italy , she’s a young colorist who just joined Azurek Studios and InvestComics wanted to let the world know.

Her first comic will be featured in Black Magic TV – Vincent Price Presents from Blue Water comics. The release date is set for March 2012. Be sure to look for it!

ILaria is also working on 2 books with fellow creators Rita Gorgoni and Stefano Cardoselli.

Azurek Studios was born in 2000, and was the brain child of Stefano Cardoselli and Rita Gorgoni.

Azurek has also worked with Heavy Metal Magazine, 2000 AD, Com.x Comics, Blue Water Comics, Antactic press,DarkSlingers comics and many more. To learn more about Azurek, please visit www.azurekstudios.com

Check out some of Ilaria’s work below (Click to enlarge). Welcome to Azurek Studios!

Well here it is folks, my first published work. It’s kind of surreal. Special thanks to Stefano, Jeff, Adam and Darren. Vincent Price Presents #36 will be in the next Previews, be sure to get your comic shop to order some!

Graphic novelist Matthew MacLean (Cthulhu Tales, Murder at Pine Lake) has just released the first in a four part series about the “Dead West” in Forgotten, a new spaghetti Western from Hades published by Studio 407. Saddling up to do the art is Italiano Indie artist Stefano Cardoselli whose credits include Heavy Metal, 2000 AD and the upcoming one shot “Good Boy” to appear in the Vincent Prices Presents series by Bluewater Productions.

Here’s the premise:

Meet Dakota Smith, a former soldier who wakes up dead from three bullets in his chest in Forgotten, a ghost town in a corner of Hell. Dakota makes a deal with the Devil to be the town’s Sheriff and get all the “rewards” that go with wearing the badge. Unfortunately the job ain’t so easy. Being the Devil’s minion never pays off – it always about “payback.” This four-part series, which has received stellar reviews follows, the travels and travesties that Sheriff Dakota Smith must encounter and overcome as he tries to conquer the Dead West and his new hellish boss.

1. Matthew, welcome! First tell us a little bit about yourself and some of the other published works in your portfolio.

(MM:) I’m an amateur who’s managed to convince people at a number of places, including BOOM! and Bluewater Productions, that I have some talent. I’ve even convinced them to pay me from time to time.

2. How did you come up with the idea for Forgotten, and how did you hook up with the artist?

(MM:) Forgotten 22 was written in the heat of the summer in an old mansion that was so dilapidated that it had been carved up into various apartments that I shared it with a crack house and an abusive, alcoholic couple.The walls were thin enough that what my neighbors did was no secret.So I needed something else to focus on.
Sitting over my computer, sweating in the Tennessee swelter, it seemed only natural that my mind turned to Hell. I was raised Catholic, but had always had my doubts. Overall, the Christian faith seemed like an inherently unfair, even rigged, system. At the heart of the dogma’s contradictions was one of its big stars, Lucifer. Lucifer, or Satan, or He of the Many Names (I went with Red), was portrayed as the source of all evil, the bane of mankind, the scourge of our Lord and Savior. But if God is all knowing and infallible, he knew that Red was going to go bad the moment he laid hand to create him. It doesn’t take a big leap of logic, then, to connect God as the source of all evil. He is, after all, the source of everything. So Red is just God’s whipping boy, a figure he created for humans to demonize while God horded all the love and glory.

Whether I believe any of that or not, I’m not going to bother with, but it’s that little thought exercise that led to Forgotten 22.

3. How did you pitch the idea to Studio 407? Did you have a treatment or did you have to show completed pages?

(MM:) I did it over a lunch with the editor at New York Comiccon. Having a good treatment and completed pages are a must, but the simple truth is that you need to get out to conventions and meet these people, show them you aren’t a loon or a lazy-ass and that you’re real and they should look at your stuff.

4. Tell us about some of the reviews you’ve received, and how the book did in its release in the March Diamond Preview catalog (Order # MAR111247).

(MM:) I honestly try not to read the reviews. While the positive ones can make you feel great, the bad ones can tear out your soul. I can’t survive them, so I try to pretend they don’t exist.

5. Where else is issue one available – either online or in stores?

(MM:) It’ll be available in both. You can check out a preview at the Studio 407 site here.

6. What is the timetable for releasing issues 2 thru 4? And I presume a full-fledged graphic novel is in the works?

(MM:) All four issues are finished so there’s nothing stopping them from coming out back-to-back. But there will definitely be a graphic novel.

7. Your publisher, Studio 407, is pretty aggressive, or should I say successful – about getting properties in their library pitched for film. Are there plans to make this into a film as well?

(MM) I have no idea. If I wanted to be in films, I’d write screenplays. I want to make comic books.

8. Who did the letters for the book?

(MM:) Jaymes Reed did all of the lettering and logo design. The rest is Stefano. He’s the man.

9. Are you planning to be at any upcoming cons or other event to sign copies, meet and greet the fans, and pimp the book?

(MM:) Studio 407 usually has a presence at every major con. If they’ve got a booth there, that’s where you’ll find me.

10. What advice do you have for indie creators who’d like to follow you path – i.e., get a book made and into Diamond Previews?

(MM:) Finish the book. Is it a one shot? How about a 10 volume epic? Finish the book. And get advice to make it better along the way. Publishers love, love, love, finished works. Pitches and treatments are great, but if it’s your first time out nothing shows a publisher you’re serious like having the entire f#$king book ready to go.

11. Bonus question: What else are you working on, and please share any websites or social networking sites where we can follow the latest news with Forgotten.

If you haven’t heard by now, I will be writing a one shot for BlueWater Productions under the Vincent Price Presents title book. It’s called “Good Boy” and will feature an extraordinary talented team of Stefano Cardoselli on pencils/inks and Jeff Balke on colors. If you’d like to see the full press release, you can click here. If you’d like to see a preview page that is completely finished click here.

A special thanks to all of those who supported me when this news broke. I truly appreciate it, and look forward to sharing the process of building the comic with all of you.

Now off to the Weekly Hot Picks! Here’s a nice little quick nugget; Did you know it’s been over 5 years straight of the Weekly Comic Hot Picks in the magazine and InvestComics.com combined?!

DC Comics; Supergirl #60 gets a new creative team. Artist Bernard Chang (Superman, Wonder Woman), and writer Nick Spencer of the wildly super hot series Morning Glories! A new and very cool animated series will coming out called Young Justice. Check out the first comic based off of this soon to be hit cartoon. Have to mention that Tony Daniels cover for Batman #706. That’s super cool.

Marvel; Amazing Spider-Man #652 brings back an old foe Alistair Smythe, a.k.a. Spider-Slayer. Check out Slayers first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19 (1985). You probably could find this comic lying around in some $1 bin at your local comic book convention. Iron Man celebrates his anniversary issue with issue #500. Anniversary issues usually don’t fare that well in the aftermarket, so don’t look for the “regular issue” to command much on ebay, except for the variant from Joe Quesada. A steep $130 at some comic shops makes this a rare and hard book to get.

Independents; 3 books are highlighted this week. 27 #1 sold out quickly, so a second print variant will be hitting the shelves this week. Also check out Image Comics Memoir #1, a very interesting looking book with John Cassaday’s name attached to it, and Boys reaches its milestone 50th issue.

InvestComics TV will be releasing Part 4 of 4 with Neal Adams this Wednesday! What a great series!

Artist Stefano Cardoselli has given InvestComics its first Hero. Yes, It’s Troy Vaeth, and Stefano has delivered the goods. Click to see InvestComics First Hero EVER, and a NEW contest involving Troy…….